Ken Garff Honda of Orem Facebook Giveaway Rules and Guidelines

Ken Garff Honda of Orem promotions and giveaways are in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. If you have any questions regarding promotions and giveaways please contact Wendell Wood, Ken Garff Honda of Orem's Internet Marketing Manager, at 801-714-2200.  Do NOT contact Facebook. Ken Garff Honda of Orem will conduct its giveaways as described in these general rules, and by participating, each participant agrees to the following:

1. Eligibility: You must be thirteen (13) years of age or older and a Utah resident in order to qualify. 

2. Entries: Entry in the giveaways requires the individual to “like” Ken Garff Honda of Orem on Facebook and follow the giveaway rules posted by Ken Garff Honda of Orem on the Ken Garff Honda of Orem Facebook page. Only one (1) entry per authorized account holder. The authorized account holder is deemed to be the natural person who is assigned to the Facebook profile.

3. Giveaway drawings: Drawings will be done at random and the name of the winner will be displayed on the Honda of Orem blog in order to announce the winner. The entrant selected as a winner must comply with all terms and conditions set forth in these rules and regulations, and winning is dependent upon fulfilling all such requirements. Winner will be notified through Facebook. Ken Garff Honda of Orem is not responsible for notifications that are misdirected or not received because of email addresses or mailing addresses that are not correct. If the winner does not reply to the Facebook notification or contact Ken Garff Honda of Orem within 72 hours of the drawing, an alternate entrant may be selected at random from the entries received.

4. Giveaways: Giveaway prizes will vary. The prize is not transferable, redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. The prize MUST be claimed at Ken Garff Honda of Orem, 115 E. University Pkwy, Orem, UT 84058 within seven (7) days of the giveaway end date. Certain giveaways might be date specific (i.e. tickets, etc) and the winner must be available on the dates specified. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.

5. Winner/Redemption: The winner must claim the prize in person at Ken Garff Honda of Orem and provide a valid personal photo ID. Ken Garff Honda of Orem reserves the right to use the winner’s name, picture and likeness for publicity purposes. The winner may be required to sign a release to confirm the receipt and acceptance of the prize. Travel expenses will NOT be paid.

6. Conditions: By accepting the prize, the winner agrees that the organization may use the winner's name and picture for advertising and promotional purposes without further consideration, unless prohibited by law. By participating in the giveaway, the participant agrees that Ken Garff Honda of Orem, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and all of its officers, directors, employees and representatives will have no liability whatsoever for, and will be held harmless for any and all liability for any injury, loss or damage of any kind to persons, including death, and property due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the prize or participation in the giveaway or any prize related activity. Subject to all federal, state and local laws. Void where prohibited.

7. Other: By participating in the giveaways, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the Ken Garff Honda of Orem personnel. Persons who violate any rule, gain unfair advantage in participating (including, but not limited to entering the giveaway more than once), or obtain winner status using fraudulent means will be disqualified. Unsportsmanlike, disruptive, annoying, harassing or threatening behavior is prohibited. In the event of a dispute, all entries received will be considered to be made by the authorized account holder of the Facebook account as on record at the time of the giveaway ending.

8. Disclaimer: Ken Garff Honda of Orem will interpret these rules and resolve any disputes, conflicting claims or ambiguities concerning the rules or the giveaway. Ken Garff Honda of Orem’s decisions concerning such disputes will be final. If the conduct or outcome of the giveaway is affected by human error, any mechanical malfunctions or failures of any kind, intentional interference or any event beyond the control of Ken Garff Honda of Orem, Ken Garff Honda of Orem reserves the right to make revisions to the giveaway, terminate the giveaway, or make such other decisions regarding the outcome as Ken Garff Honda of Orem deems appropriate.  All decisions will be made by Ken Garff Honda of Orem and are final.  Ken Garff Honda of Orem may waive any of these rules in its sole discretion. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or to undermine the legitimate operation of this promotion is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, the organization will aim to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. This contest will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah,U.S.A., excluding its conflict of law principles.

9. No purchase necessary to win.

Updated 2/7/2013

Tips for Winter Driving

My dad grew up in Wyoming.  His first winter in Utah he stood outside and watched, mesmerized, as the snow fell to the ground.

"Never seen snow?" an acquaintance conjectured.

"I'm from Wyoming," my dad admitted.  "I've seen a lot of snow.  I've just never seen it fall down to the ground.  In Wyoming, it usually blows sideways."

Dad had a lot of experience with snow driving along with a few other bits of expertise.  (Dad had us all practice driving as if we suddenly had come on a cow in the road.  His tip?  Let up on the brake at the last second and hit the thing square on.  Evidently, if you do, you're less likely to flip the cow up on your hood.)  One of dad's most important tips for stopping in the snow: pumping your brakes.

Pumping your brakes is one of the most counterintuitive things to do when you're rapidly sliding toward something, in part because it requires you to take your foot off the brake over and over.  'Course, we kids all learned to drive in cars with "standard" brakes, something that's hardly standard any more.

Virtually every car made in the last 20 years (I totally made this statistic up) has anti-lock brakes (ABS), and the bonus is, with ABS you don't need to pump the brakes--they pulse for you.  Probably one of the hardest things for me to learn to do in adulthood was to stop pumping my brakes in the snow and just trust the car.

The other day, as I slid around in the snow with my brakes pulsing, I realized that now might be a good time to offer up some tips on winter driving.

Photo courtesy: Honda Ridgeline Facebook page

1. Know your brakes.  If you drive an older car with standard brakes, follow my dad's tip and pump the brakes.  If you have ABS, a smooth slow braking job will do the trick.  Don't let the pulsing throw you.  Just keep the pressure on.

2. Keep your distance.  When driving in the snow, you need to keep up to three times the distance that you normally would from a car in front of you.

3.  Slow down.  In any kind of inclement weather, it's important to slow down.  Snow can reduce visibility as well as stopping speed.  Even if you slide into something, if you're traveling slowly it's far likely to be disastrous.

4. Don't stop.  It can be hard to get the car going on slick, slushy roads.  If you can just maintain your slow speed and avoid stopping, that's idea.  When you have to stop, say, to turn across traffic, give yourself lots of extra space as you'll be slower getting going than you thought.

5. Turn into a skid.  The best advice I've seen on this is from an MSNBC travel article.  They said, "If you start to skid, steer the vehicle gently in direction you want your vehicle to go and don't touch the brakes."

Christmas Dinner Report

I have never had an experience, either personally or in business, quite like the Ken Garff Honda of Orem Christmas dinner service project.  It was overwhelming to hear the stories of wonderful people caught in difficult situations.  It was excruciating to help decide which families would receive a dinner.  And it was moving to get the thank yous of those who were helped.

Honda of Orem definitely had their own skin in the game, donating Walmart gift cards for every basket.  But the hams and the turkeys?  From the employees.  Stuffing, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, yams and marshmallows, and on, all from the generous donations of Honda of Orem employees--everyone from salesman to accounting to service techs.  These good people opened their hearts and their wallets to provide a nice dinner for those who had had a rough year.  As one thank you note put it, "You have been a bright spot in a not-so-bright world for [this little family] at this time."

The donations were so significant that each family received not a ham or a turkey, but a ham AND a turkey.  One thank you note said this, "I just wanted to say thank you for your amazing generosity and tell you that your bounty was shard twice over.  There was so much food that there was more than our family needed for Christmas.  I called my Bishop and we were able to share our dinner with another family in need.  Thank you again for all your kindness!"

 

It would be wholly inappropriate not to give credit to Debi Mauer who ran this whole program.  She collected donations from the employees, she arranged for donations from business partners including Smith's, Mimi's, Texas Roadhouse, and Village Inn.  She also had the privilege of calling the families to tell them they'd been nominated and arranging the delivery of the dinners.  It was an emotionally impactful responsibility.

"As I talked to one woman," she told me, "I knew nothing of her story, but as she cried getting this news, I started crying.  I was working so hard to maintain my composure and be professional, but I was leaving long gaps that were awkward."

Above all, this little story shows who Debi really is.  Not only is she a woman who can make things happen, but she's a woman with a giving heart.  She is a perfect representative of the Ken Garff Honda of Orem employees.  Our motto is "We hear you."  That's because we listen.  And we listen because we care.

Test Driving the Sporty 2013 Civic

In the spring of 2011 the newly redesigned 2012 Civic was unveiled--and universally panned.  Reviewers complained about the interior, the steering and the look.  But the Civic isn't just any car--it's Honda's number one seller.  So only a year into the redesign, Honda has set a new standard and dramatically "refreshed" its top seller.

Introducing the 2013 Civic just 19 months after its redesign, Honda has recreated the Civic adding impressive new features and a sleek new look.  If I had to sum up the 2013 Honda Civic in a word it would be--sporty.

Rather than feeling like I'm climbing to a run-of-the-mill compact car, I felt like I was climbing into a sports car--and I was driving the EX not the designed-sporty Si.  The gleam of the chrome on the exterior, the beautiful stitching on the interior and the perfectly responsive steering make this "refreshed" vehicle refreshing to drive.

Honda added a back-up camera standard on all Civics, as well as SMS text message (where the car reads your message to you), Pandora internet radio and Bluetooth streaming audio.  Not only is the car super quiet (another "refreshed" feature), but it is so darn fun to drive!

I drive an Odyssey.  I love that Honda's minivan is incredibly responsive and turns in mid-size car amount of space. But even that comparable tight turning, did nothing to prepare me for the responsiveness of the Civic.  Not only does it turn in a seemingly bicycle size circle, but there's just something perfect about the steering.

The steering isn't so responsive that it's jerky, but it's also not in any way stiff or difficult.  It's hard to describe, just know--it is amazing.  The thing just begs to be taken on a long drive up a canyon where you can just turn and turn and feel in love.

I also love the Eco button.  In this car, you have cool 3D-ish floating blue bars that frame the speedometer.  When you're driving in the most eco-friendly, gas-milage-saving way, they turn green.  I was almost ridiculously enamored with trying to keep the lines green.

The new 2013 Honda Civic really leaves me speechless.  I guess the only thing let for you to do is come test drive it yourself. 

Wanted: 12 Families In Need

Christmas is a wonderful time of year with all of the lights, smells and, activities that represent this season.  Yet Christmas can be a hard time when you're down on your luck.  (And which of us hasn't had a Christmas or two like that.)

In the spirit of Holiday giving, Ken Garff Honda of Orem would like to give a turkey or ham and all of the fixings fit for a Christmas dinner to 12 families in need.  The problem?  We don't know who needs the help.  But we believe you do!

To nominate a family in need (you can nominate yourself), send a private Facebook message to the Ken Garff Honda of Orem page or send an email to jennakwood@gmail.com with the following information.

• The last name of the family
• How many people are in the family
• What city they live in
• A bit of their story

Guidelines:  We will be sponsoring families in Utah County anywhere from Lehi to Payson.  Nominations will be accepted from Tuesday Dec 11 - Sunday Dec 16.  The nominator will be contacted on the 17th or 18th and informed whether or not we will be able to help the nominee.  If we can help the nominee, we will need to collect further info such as phone number and address so that we can deliver the dinner.

Update:

The groceries will be delivered by Ken Garff Honda of Orem employees during the day on Dec 21st--the Friday before Christmas.  The food will be unprepared so the family can use the ingredients to prepare family favorite recipes. 

15 Gift Ideas for the Car Lover in Your Life

Christmas is a hard time to find the right gift for everyone.  Here are some helps and hint for the car lover in your life.

1.  Back seat car organizers are perfect for seats with no pockets.

2. An oil change is something that you have to do several times a year anyway.  Gift a Ken Garff oil change and get an executive wash and vacuum included. 

3. All weather floor mats are a must.  If someone on your list doesn't have them, this is the perfect gift for them.

4. Car wash gift cards make a perfect stocking stuffer!

5. For winter months, a steering wheel cover will keep a loved one's hands from the cold.

6. XM Satellite Radio is a great gift for the music lover on your list. 

7. Everyone needs an emergency kit in the their car.  It's an easy thing to forget about, but it's also inexpensive to give.  Nice sets start around $30.

8. A trunk tray protects your trunk from all of the things you haul.  

9. Here at the Honda of Orem store, giving a prepaid maintenance is a great option.  It includes 3 oil and filter changes, 3 tire rotations and 3 car washes.  

10. Giving someone a car is outside of what's possible of most of us, but giving a full detail is the next best thing.  It revives the car making it seem like new.

11. Thinking green and clean, you can get a reusable trash sack--a super handy gift for people with kids or who are on the road a lot.

12. An auxiliary cable is helpful for all kinds of things including, plugging your iPod right into your sound system.  

13.  For families, a DVD player is a must.  Portable ones are affordable and easy to find.  If you're feeling generous, getting one installed may be the best gift yet.

14. Coolers that plug into the auxiliary jack, are especially thoughtful for the frequent traveler. 

15. Car magazines like Car and Driver or Motor Trend have been popular at my house.  It keeps your car lover up-to-date on what's going on in auto industry.

The Package Deal

When my husband and I first bought a car from Ken Garff Honda of Orem, one of the first things we did is cancel our AAA membership.  Although, AAA provides a number of different services and benefits, we'd used it largely for roadside assistance.  Thanks to a special Ken Garff program, that assistance was no longer needed.

The program has morphed a bit over the years, but the spectacular service remains the same.  It's called GarffCare and let me tell you, the Garff's know how to care.

When you purchase a car at any Ken Garff dealership you get the GarffCare package as part of the deal.  It's an automatic add-on with no costs or paperwork.  GarffCare provides free towing to any Ken Garff location running from Odgen to Spanish Fork and also in the Park City Area.

They also provide roadside assistance including jumping a dead battery, unlocking your vehicle if you left your keys inside, and installing a spare tire for you if you have a flat.  In fact, they'll even bring you 2-3 gallons of gas if you've run out.  Something, that I'm embarrassed to admit that I've done.  And really, it's no body's fault but my own, still, they'll come right out to save the day!

The GarffCare program insures that you can get on-the-spot car registration, saving you a trip annually. They also provide a patch-and-go service for a flat tire repair at no charge.  Just imagine, you've got a flat tire.  Calling 1-877-222-5887 connects you to a tow truck who changes your tire for you. Then you drive to the nearest dealership and they patch your flat and get you back on the road. The total cost?  $0.  Nothing!  Nil.  Zip.  Zilch.  Nada.  It's just the Garff way of thanking you for your business.

And to sweeten the deal... every service you get at the dealership service department, even if it's just an oil change or tire patching, you get a GarffClean--an executive wash and vacuum every visit.

Honda Is Tops in Holding Value

2013 Accord

American Honda Motor Company wins ALG's 2013 Residual Value Award for Best Mainstream Brand, besting competitors in long term value.  What that means for you (and me) as Honda owners, is that Honda retains its value even as it ages.  When it's time to trade-in, or sell your car,  you'll get far more for your Honda vehicle, than your friends who own some other make.  (Something I noted in this post on getting the most for your trade-in.)

2013 Odyssey

"Long-term value and reliability are both hallmarks of the Honda brand and we are honored to be recognized by ALG as the industry leader in these key qualities," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of national marketing operations at America Honda.  "The Honda engineering philosophy not only delivers immediate value to our customers, but will pay off in the long run as well."

The Honda brand's award of Best Mainstream Brand, recognizes the entire Honda lineup for exceptional vehicle quality, strong brand desirability, and long-term reliability.  In addition, The 2013 Accord, the Honda Odyssey and the Honda Fit, all received top honors in their individual categories, which were Best Midsize Car, Best Minivan and Best Sub-Compact Car, respectively.

2013 Fit

ALG determines winners through study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends.  ALG publishes the Residual Value Guidebook and is a leading provider of insights and consulting services to the automotive industry.

 I have to say that I love it when we win!  It makes me proud to be part of a Honda dealership.

Happy (Hilarious) Honda Days

I'm an advertising junky.  You know the kind, they like the Superbowl commercials better than the actual Superbowl.  So I was eagerly looking forward to the release of the new... drumroll ... 

Happy Honda Days commercials.  And let me tell you, they do not disappoint!  

Each spot opens with someone thanking Honda for giving their friend or relative a great deal on a new car.  The narrator gives a detailed account of why the car is such a great purchase, hilarity ensues.  

Enjoy.  

Steven's Pilot

Lisa's Odyssey

Samantha's Sister's Civic

Dad's Accord

Honda's Got Your Back(up Camera)

No question, one of my favorite features in the 2013 Odyssey is the backup camera--which is now standard on all Odysseys.

As Cars.com explained, "Previously, a backup camera was only available on the EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite trims.  For 2013, the Pilot, Accord, Crosstour, CR-Z and Ridgeline also get a standard backup camera."

I have probably mentioned that I have five kids.  And my neighbors all have kids.  In fact, if you include mine, there are 18 kids that live on my cul-de-sac, not including friends, grandkids, etc.  Backing up is one of THE most dangerous maneuvers I do with my car each day.

Before backing out, I walk around my car, turn off my radio and the fan (AC/heat), roll down my front windows and back out really, really slowly.  But backing up with a backup camera is so much safer!  You can see where you're going and what's to the sides of you as well.

Despite my copious backing-up safety rituals, I have, on more than one occasion, pulled into the road only to realize that there was a child, just to the side of my driveway that I hadn't seen.  That has freaked me out every time.  (Shivering)

So I really put the 2013 Odyssey's back up camera to the test when I got to take it for a spin.  After pulling in my driveway, I grabbed a little 12 inch bike that we own and stuck it behind the van and put it in reverse.

I could not see the tiny bike from my rear-view mirror or either of my side mirrors.  In my daily ritual, only during the walk-around could I have even seen it.  But look what happens when you turn on the backup camera.

Regular View

Wide View

Top View

These picture were taken in the early afternoon with light filtering through the trees, making it even more difficult to see.  Even without ideal viewing conditions, I could easily see the bike.  Then, I could walk around and remove it before running over it.  (It's possible that I have *uh-hem* run over a few bikes in my day...)

To be candid, the backup camera is NOT designed to replace the walk-around.  You could still have a child or toy under you vehicle or directly behind the wheels.  But the scares I've had over the years with kids who appeared at the last minute would never have happened.  With the backup camera I would always have seen them.  And as a parent, that's incredibly reassuring.

Black Friday Event

This weekend only, get a FREE iPad Mini or 40" LED TV.  

Click here for all the details.  

For me, I'd pick the iPad mini.

What would you pick?

Test Driving the 2013 Odyssey

Here in the heartland of Utah suburbia, minivans are a hot commodity.  Among minivans, the Odyssey is queen.  With Ken Garff Honda of Orem being Utah's #1 Odyssey Dealer, it seemed only appropriate to test drive the latest model.

I got to drive the top-of-the-line Touring Elite.

The first thing I noticed about the 2013 Odyssey, is that it can hold up to 8 passengers instead of the standard 7.  As Paul Stewart, the Odyssey specialist, began to show me, the Odyssey can be reconfigured in 10 different ways.  Seats can be taken in and out, folded over, or used.  Three child carseats can all be comfortably buckled on a single row in the new Odyssey.

The amenities the Odyssey is equipped with are jaw-dropping.  One of my favorites is the FM Traffic which alerts you to traffic incidents on the systems map.  While still parked in the Honda of Orem dealership parking lot, I could see where accidents had happened on I15 and incidents on State Street.

It handles like a car with quick, nimble turning lets you forget that you're in a van at all.  As Honda put it, "The 2013 Odyssey is--for lack of a better term--so un-vanlike."  I love the standard back-up camera, the power sliding doors and, in the EX-L and up, the power tailgate.

See, even 4-year-olds can work the sunshade.  

My four-year-old son's favorite feature was the built-in sunshade. You just pull the shade out from within the car and hook it onto the extended top hooks and--voila--the sun is immediately out of your eyes.  He also tested to make sure that you can still roll down the window when the sunshade is up and, if your arm is small enough, you can even stick your arm out the open window around the shade.

Like the 2013 Accord, the Odyssey has technology coming out it's ears...or, um, side mirrors. (Seriously, the Touring has Memory-Linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down.  To be honest, I have no idea what that means, but I'm sure it is useful.)

If you have a large family riding in an Odyssey and anyone is bored, that is their own fault.  Honda has installed everything possible to make sure that won't happen.  There's the XM Radio, USB audio interface, 15 gig hard drive that you can down load your own CDs, the ultra wide rear entertainment system on which you can be both watching a DVD and simultaneously playing a video game.  It think it's possible that you could drive across the entire United States and never *have* to play I Spy. (Note: playing I Spy is a perfectly good activity, possibly educational and is endorsed by grandmothers everywhere.) 

Recognize that I'm not the only one raving about the 2013 Accord.  The Car Connection review said, "Among the best of the current bunch [of minivans]--and really, the template for why minivans are still relevant and enjoyable--is the 2013 Honda Odyssey.... With the current version, Honda looked directly to today's parents.  With Bluetooth connectivity, up-to-date infotainment and entertainment features, and lots of tech savvy, plus top-notch safety...this Odyssey is neither frumpy nor behind the times."

Don't Get Soaked by Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy blew through last month wreaking a special kind of damage.  As the East coast recovers and we help where we can (donate here or here to get money and resources to victims), it's important to keep an eye on the used car market, especially if you're in the market for a used car.  A recent NBC News report stated that Hurricane Sandy may have totaled as many as a quarter of a million cars.

Photo credit: CNN.com

Flooding a car is much like dropping your cell phone in the bathtub.  It ruins the engine, gauges and especially the electrical components of your car.  It can fill the interior of the car with mildew and mold while simultaneously rusting out the bottom.  Often, however, it takes a few months for the real damage to take effect on the car, giving criminals a window of opportunity in returning scrapped cars to the market. 

So how do flood cars get back in the market?  Unlike a cell phone, it is incredibly difficult to dry out a car after it's been flooded.  So flood cars are automatically totaled by insurance companies.  The car is then taken by the insurance company and sent to an auction where it will be sold for parts or scrap metal.  Unfortunately, there are always a few unscrupulous buyers--owners of chop shops--who are there to buy vehicles at lowest possible prices and return them to the market.

Buy moving the vehicle over a few states, these criminals can "wash" the title eliminating the "totaled" notation from it and presenting to potential buyers a clean-looking title.

If you're in the market for a used car, use these tips to make sure you don't get soaked.

1. Watch for smells.  Flood cars smell molly and old.  Also watch for overly perfumed cars, whose owners may be trying to cover the telltale bad smells.

2. Brand new carpet.  A four-year-old car should have four-year-old carpet.  If the carpet is brand new, it may be a flood car.

3. Check for water signs.  Lines in the trunk or interior of the car or fogging in head or tail lights means that you have a car that's been flooded.  Be wary of dirt or build-up in unusual places.

4. Look for rust.  Check the undercarriage, under the carpet, as well as behind the gas and brake pedals for rust.  A lot of rust on a new-ish used car is a very bad sign.

5. Check the VIN.  At the National Insurance Crime Bureau's website you can check the VIN, at no cost, to see if the car has ever been totaled by an insurance company.

6. Check CarFax. Get a vehicle history report from CarFax.  Ken Garff Honda of Orem provides a free CarFax history on every used car.  You can print it off of the Honda of Orem website or come into the dealership where a salesperson will print one for you and walk you through the vehicle history.

If you are in the market for a used car in the next 3-6 months, it is critically important to go through every step in checking for flood damage before you buy.

Honda Safety Feature Ranked #1

Edmunds Inside Line ranked their favorite new car features introduced on 2013 cars.  Their #1 favorite feature?  Honda new LaneWatch introduced on the 2013 Honda Accord.

Photo credit: Insideline.com

It looks like Edmunds and I agree!

Edmunds is even predicting that United States Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, will include this feature on "his wish list of future mandated safety technologies."

10 Must Have Accessories For Your New Car

There are so many different car accessories that deciding which ones to get can leave you puzzled.  If you want accessories that add value and protect your new vehicle, here are the accessories that you must get.

1. All-Weather Floor Mats. Most new cars come with a carpet floor mat.  The all-weather mats are rubber and help protect your car's flooring by keeping it clean and dry.

2. Door edge guard.  This handy gadget slides on the edge of the door preventing you from both "dinging" other cars and from chipping the paint on your vehicle.

3. Trunk tray.  The rubber trunk tray is to your trunk what all-weather mats are to your floor.  Among other things, it stops a leaky milk jug from stinking up your car.  Pull your trunk tray out, give it a quick rinse and air dry.  Pop it back in your trunk and you're good to go. 

4. Roof rack and cross bars.  For those with long travel plans.  Also goes along with...

5. Roof-top carrier.  Adds around 13 cubic feet of extra storage, depending on the model you get.

6. Window tint is a great investment.  It lowers the temperature inside the car and protects the interior from UV rays and fading.

7. Tow hitch and wiring harness.  This is a perfect addition on Ridgelines, CRVs, Pilots and Odysseys if you have outdoor toys that you need to get from point A to point B.

8. DVD players keep happy passengers and unbothered drivers.  Perfect for anyone who takes long road trips.

9. Fabric guard or leather guard protects your car's interior from stains and spills.  The "guard" products  protect the fabric from absorbing stains, to they are much easier to remove while protecting against both water and oil based stains.  

10. Undercoating.  Sprayed under your car, it makes your undercarriage rust proof.  This is critical for snowy climates, like Utah where salt is used to make roads drivable under slick conditions.  Undercoating also reduces road noise making your commute that much more pleasant.

What Do You Need To Wash Off Fast? (Tips on Keeping Car Paint Nice)

You never know what will happen Halloween night.  Spooks and goblins (aka princesses, pirates and Justin Bieber) knocking at your door for candy is a given.  But once the little ones are in bed, sometimes hooligans come out to have a little fun, too.

This is the time of night when your jack-o-lanterns are at risk for getting smashed, you house toilet-papered and your car egged.  There are several things you need to know to get off your car paint fast before it ruins the finish and bleaches the color.

Although there are many things that can ruin a car finish (bird poop, sand, UV rays, bug guts, and tree sap) around Halloween, it's important to watch for household products and auto-use chemicals many of which can destroy a car finish is a couple of hours.

Brake cleaner, brake fluid, brake dust carburetor cleaner and gasoline can destroy a car's finish in time.  Wipe spills immediately and don't top off gasoline at the pump.  Of these, brake fluid can ruin a finish fast, so make sure to keep it off the paint or douse with water immediately.

Mustard, fertilizer, shaving cream and eggs are household products that will kill the finish of your car.  Shaving cream and eggs are particularly potent, so if someone pulls a prank, don't let it wait for the next day.

Rumor has it the bologna will ruin a car finish, too.  eHow says no way and argues that bologna only leaves grease spots which are easily washed off.  Answerbag claims that not only will bologna ruin a car's finish, but it will ruin rapidly in the sun.  I'd rather be safe than sorry.  Pull the bologna off quickly and wash with auto detergent.

No matter if you are visited by angels or devils Halloween night, you know how to keep your car's finish in top shape.

TPMS is Totally Different From PMS

Every fall as the air turns chill, a cute little light (with an exclamation point) comes on in my car.  This light is the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and it lets you know when a tire is low on air.

The TPMS light is designed to look like a tire. 

Now why does this light come on every fall?  I mean, that's weird.  I haven't run over anything, my driving is the same, then why am I suddenly low on air?

As the temperature falls, air condenses, including the air in your tires, which leaves your tires a little low. All you need to do is bring your tire to the correct PSI (pounds per square inch) and after driving a few miles, the light will automatically go off.

Besides making the pesky little light go off, why does it matter what your tire pressure is?  The quick answer is that tires are expensive, so you want them to last as long a possible.  To get the slowest and most even wear, your tires need to be at the correct PSI.

There is also too much of a good thing.  It's not a matter of, if some is good more is better, when tires are over inflated you feel every bump and crack in the road.  Like under-inflation, your tires wear out more quickly because they wear out unevenly.  And, if it's over-inflated, you run the larger risk that your tire will pop if you hit something wrong.  (I once watched a driver in a small sudan pop a tire in a parking lot when he hit the curb--something we affectionally call "a curb check.")

To find the correct PSI, the best place to check is your owner's manual.  The tire itself has a maximum PSI listed, but the reality is, that you don't want your tires at the maximum PSI it can handle. Plus, let's be honest, it's really, really hard to find words on your tires that are the same color as your tires.  In order to see it, you need to be in direct sunlight, hold your hand to the level of your eye, say some magic words and do seven squats.  Then, if you're really lucky, you might be able to make out some of what the tire says.   Your owner's manual is quicker, easier and more accurate.

After going through the aforementioned tire reading ritual, my husband said that my tires say that the max PSI is 40.  (I never could see it, but I'm taking his word for it.)  My owner's manual, however, recommended that the front tire PSI be 33 and the rear tires 35 PSI.  For driving comfort, this is an important difference.

This is where I make a confession.  I am a 36-year-old mother of five and I have never put air in a car tire.  Period.  Ever.  I grew up the middle of three girls.  My dad traveled a lot when I was a teen, so when he was home, he prided himself on helping out with the things he could.  Car maintenance was definitely his baby.  I got married at 21 and happily handed car related issues to my husband.  He has done a fantastic job keeping everything running.  I think the last time my TPMS light came on, I only called him 14 times* before he had that baby to the gas station and the tires filled.

But, with the patience of Job, this very day, my husband taught me how to check my tire pressure and fill the darn things.  In case you, like me, have never checked air pressure or filled a tire before I'll explain how to do it, so you won't feel as dumb as I did.

1. Unscrew the lid off the tire valve stem.

2. Push your air pressure gauge on the value stem securely.  Check your reading.

3. If your tire is low, go to the gas station and pull your car up next to the air pump.  (It's usually around the edge of the gas station.)

4. Snap the air hose onto your tire.  If you hear air leaking, then it's not on correctly.  Fill and go through steps 1 and 2 to check your air pressure again.

5. If you overfilled the tire, or find that it's overfull when you checked your pressure, release air by pushing on the valve stem.  Check the pressure again and--voila!--you're done.

*This may be a slight exaggeration.

10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Trade-in

When it's time to buy a new car, there's a lot on your mind.  After all, you've researched, done test drives and finally arrived at "the one." It's easy to forget about your old car, so I've put together a few quick tips that will help you get the most from your former ride.

1. Keep your car clean. Many of us live in our cars.  In time, that lived-in feel can be a bit much.  Keeping up with regular car washes and cleaning the interior of the car can add life to the car that will show up when you get your car appraised.

2. Detail your car.  I know that this tip a close relative of tip #1, but it can be a money maker when it comes to trade-in time.  A good detail will cost between $100-$150.  The detailing process means going over the car with a fine-toothed comb.  When your car is done, the outside will shine, the inside will smell delicious and the manager appraising your car won't even be able to find a stray crumb.  You're guaranteed to get your money back on the detail, but the reality is your car's value will rise hundreds of dollars if it looks impeccable.

Photo Courtesy: ocnissanirvine.com

3. Get regular oil changes. Pay attention to your vehicle's maintenance minder system, which alerts you when your oil is dirty and needs a change.  If your vehicle is 10 year's old or older, you may want to stick with the 3000 mile recommendation, but newer vehicles don't need the oil changed that often.  If your car doesn't have a maintenance minder system, check your owner's manual for details. Even with improved lubricants and tighter tolerances in the engine itself, oil does eventually gets dirty which can clog the engine and devalue your car.

4. Get all factory recommended maintenance done, including any replacements for manufacturer recalls.

5.  Bring records of what work you've had done on the vehicle.  This process is simplified if you bought the car new and always had it serviced at the manufacturer's service department since they keep records on your car for you.  But even if you've taken your vehicle elsewhere, bring receipts of the most recent work.  Have you already replaced the timing belt and water pump?  Now the dealership won't have to and that's money back in your pocket.  Did you get new tires or brakes recently? Providing receipts of the work you've had done shows you care about your car and will translate to a higher value.

6. Don't crash.  Or at least get the damage fixed right.  A $99 paint job is going to show badly at trade-in time.  Take your vehicle to a reputable repair shop and request OEM parts.

7. Fix rock chips in the windshield.  Like getting your car detailed, making sure your windshield is free from cracks and dings guarantees you your money back, plus some.

8. Bring in all keys, remotes, owners manuals and floor mats.  These are things the dealership will have to replace and will cost them time and money.  Having everything in order to hand over assures you the most money for your car, partly by reducing the headache the dealer has to go through.

9. Buy a car that holds its value. One of the reasons that Honda vehicles hold their value so well is that Honda refuses to sell fleet vehicles to car rental companies. Car rental companies generally get brand-new cars and resell them in a year.  Because these are high-milage, heavily used vehicles, they sell significantly below a true resale value, but because virtually all car rental companies resell vehicles at the same time, the market becomes flooded with devalued vehicles, thereby making your car lose value just by association.

10.  Don't get a trendy color.  Trendy colors are great for purses, jewelry, and home decor--not for cars.  A trendy color (think pea green) can make a car sale-proof and devalue a car thousands of dollars as compared to non-trendy counterparts.  White and silver may be boring, but they also appeal to a broader range of consumers making it easier for the dealership to resell and that difference goes to your wallet.

Photo Courtesy: alserrablog.wordpress.com

Want a $3000 Fuel Card?

Honda and Clean Energy are teaming up to hand out $3000 fuel cards to all new Civic Natural Gas customers.   

After doing a few quick calculations, I realized that it would take an eon, at current natural gas prices, to use the entire three grand.  Honda said, "With a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 31 mpg and a fuel cost savings of up to 40 percent compared to a typical gasoline-powered contact cat, the Civic Natural Gas Vehicle can significantly reduce the pain at the pump."  And that's only once you start to pay for it!

Filling up with natural gas is very similar what you normally do at the gas pump.  It only takes a few minutes to fill and you're usually able to travel about 200 miles between filling up.  (I know on my gas-run Odyssey, I can usually go about 230 miles before filling up, so it's likely quite comparable to what you're currently doing.)

In addition to the personal benefits of free then lower fuel costs, it's also great for the environment.  The 2012 Natural Gas Civic was named the "2012 Green Car of the Year" by Green Car Journal and one of the "greenest vehicles of 2012" by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.  

"It you're looking to save money at the pump . . . and reduce your environmental impact, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle is a great choice," noted Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office.

"Drivers have increasingly seen a greater percentage of their dollars going down their car's gasoline tanks," said Peter Grace, senior vice president of Clean Energy for sales.  "For the average driver, the $3000 Clean Energy fuel card provided by Honda will translate into two to three years of not paying for fuel."

I don't know how that translates for you, but not having to pay for gas would save me upwards of $80 a month.  I can think of a lot of things I can do with $80 a month for the next three years!  

To learn more about the CNG fuel card promotion check out: www.CGNfuelcard.honda.com.  Want to more about CNG filling stations around the country?  http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com

And to check the inventory of the Natural Gas Civics here in Orem click here.  

Safety Experiment You Never Want

When my husband and I bought our first Honda Accord, one of the big factors was Honda's superior safety rating.  It was a fundamental thing that I was taught as a child--that you want to be safe. When I was a kid--in the days before airbags and booster seats--my parents still insisted that we wear seat belts, even if we were in a friend's car and we had to dig the seat belts out of the crack all covered in crumbs. So caring about safety has always been a big thing and a big part of why we bought a Honda.

One day, home with our two young kids, I got the phone call no one wants.  It was from my husband's cell phone but I couldn't hear what he was saying. There was something strange in his tone and I frantically tried to call him back over and over with no answer.

When he finally got ahold of me--on someone else's phone--he told me that he'd been in head-on collision.  As my husband approached a green light, a guy, thinking he had a green arrow, turned suddenly into my husband's lane.  Only he didn't get very far before the two vehicles--both Honda's--met head on.

Our 1994 Honda Accord was totaled in 2001

Both drivers made a trip to the hospital for a precautionary check-up, but both men walked away from the accident with nothing more serious than whiplash and seat belt bruises.  My husband's cell phone didn't survive the accident and the car was totaled, but that night we went to bed really grateful.

See, we'd been driving a loaned beater (obviously, not a Honda) as our second vehicle.  It was the one my husband usually drove, but that day, knowing I didn't have anywhere special to go, he took the Accord on his errand.  It was a little miracle for our family, but to Honda engineers it wasn't a miracle at all.  It was exactly the way they'd planned it--with everybody going home after the accident safe and sound.

Taking Care of Your Blind Side

Did you see that movie, Blind Side?  You know the one with Sandra Bullock about the kid from the projects who goes on to professional football fame?  His position is left tackle and his job is to protect the quarterback's blind side.  Left tackle has become one of the big money positions--one professional football teams save top draft picks in order to get the best one.  And the teams that have a great left tackle, tend to be really good late in the season.

In your car, your blind side is on your right.  It's the spot you have to look the furthest to see--across your entire car, then over your shoulder.  Your side view mirrors help a lot, but they still leave you with a blind spot.

According to a recent study from Johns Hopkins, more than a quarter of a million car accidents occurs each year because of faulty lane changes. Anything that blocks the vision including people, visors, even the build of the vehicle can contribute to blind spot related accidents.

Enter the new 2013 Honda Accord with Lane Watch.  This little camera is like your left tackle--except it's on your right side.  With the camera on (which happens either when you turn on your right turn signal or when you press the button at the end of the turn signal lever) the display, just to the right of the steering wheel, shows the whole right side of the car with tremendous accuracy.

This first picture was what I could see using just my right side-mirror.  

This next picture is the Lane Watch view.  It's amazing how much more you can see.  I can even see the garbage cans that my kids forgot to bring in.

In an article on blind spots, Construction Exec magazine said, "Until mechanical vision systems such as blind-spot detection systems become standard, blind spots [will continue to be] a serious problem for every driver."

Thanks to the 2013 Honda Accord, Honda buyers now have the option to not have blind spots be a problem anymore!  Like one of those the "big money" players in the NFL, this is a quality product that's worth having.  And it's the kind of product that will even help us "later in the season."

Test Driving the Sleek 2013 Honda Accord

I have finally gotten behind the wheel of the brand spankin' new, super sleek, completely amazing 2013 Honda Accord EXL-V6.  I know I'm gushing, but it really is something.  The new Honda Accord is a luxury car, without the luxury pricing.

Ken Garff Honda of Orem has had some trouble keeping the 2013 Accord on their lot.  Just as soon as they get one in--it's sold!  So when I finally saw the car I'd get to drive I was stoked.  It's a beauty!

After being thoroughly walked through all of the bazillion new features, I was on my own.  Looking at the view the backup camera provided,  I pulled out of the parking spot and onto the road.

Back up camera view

The ride is incredibly smooth, the engine--though powerful--is super quiet, and the leather seats felt like they'd been specifically designed with my back in mind. I loved the blind spot camera that comes on whenever your right blinker does.

I drove immediately home to take pictures (and get marshmallows to placate my four-year-old, so I could drive for awhile).  One of my goals on this drive was to test out all of the various new beeping features.  Honda has installed a system--the Forward Collision Warning--that beeps if your front bumper gets to close to something (i.e. you're at risk of a collision).

A few family members and I were musing if this system would drive you crazy and go off all the time.  So I may have revved up to the back of a few cars trying to make the thing go off.  It didn't. See, I wasn't about to put myself, my four-year-old son, and the brand new 2013 Accord in actual risk.  And the Forward Collision Warning system can, apparently, tell the difference.  Since I wasn't in actual danger of collision--no beeping.  It put those fears to rest: you won't have to improve change your driving to enjoy this car.

Leather seats, mmmm.

I did, however, get FCW beep when a car suddenly pulled out in front of me.  It wasn't a particularly close call, but it did require a little aggressive braking on my part.  What was interesting for me, was when the beeping went on, I instinctively began braking harder. Among safety features available, I really like this one.

The next system that I had to try was the Lane Departure Warning.  In this system, when you drift from one lane to another without a turn signal one--the LDW beeps at you.  After turning left onto a wide, empty stretch of State Street, I gave it a go. Drifting to the left, the beeping went off!  I drifted back to the right and more beeping!  With a turn signal on--no beeping.  It worked exactly as advertised.  In all of my swerving up and down various roads in Orem, only once did it not go off.  Honda explains, "LDW only alerts drivers when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use.  LDW may not detect all lane marking or lane departures; accuracy will vary based on weather, speed and road condition. Driver remains responsible for safely operating vehicle and avoiding collisions."

There are so many things to love about this car.  From the Blue Tooth connection that lets you talk to people without ever looking at your phone, having your text messages read to you in a cool computer voice, having Pandora stop the moment you arrive somewhere and pick up--mid song--exactly where you left off, the amenities are jaw dropping.

As someone who has a serious problem losing her keys, I LOVED the keyless entry and start.  I stood in my driveway locking and unlocking the car.  To lock, you only have to push a button on the door handle.  To unlock--this is the coolest part--you just reach out and grab the handle.  Seriously.  It's like being in a sci-fi movie.  It made me feel kinda of powerful, like, "Hah!  This car obeys my commands."  As long as you never lose your purse, or briefcase, you never have to even get your "keys" out again.

The list of what this car can do and why it is so cool, goes on and on.  In reality, it deserves another post, but I'll wrap up this post with the eco button.  Everyone I know wants to be eco-friendly, right?  I recycle, donate used items to charity and generally like the idea of saving the earth.  But I don't like to do it if I have to sacrifice comfort.  I have ignored, for years now, the plea of our local power company to switch to the euphemistically labeled "energy efficient service" because, in large part, that means that my air conditioning won't come on during the hottest part of the day because everyone else's AC is already on.  "It'll save you money!" they say.  "You won't even notice the 5 degree temperature increase," they insist.

Perhaps I should give it a chance, but I like being cool in my house in the summer and we live in a desert for crying out loud.  So, I was a bit worried about the leaf-looking "Eco" button on the new Accord.   I was informed that it pulls power from the AC to increase gas milage.  Even though I had my misgivings, I gave it a shot anyway.  Initially, my AC lowered in power a bit, so I turned up the fan.  Problem solved. The entire time I drove around I was perfectly cool, in fact my four-year-old eventually said he was cold so I closed the vents in back.

I love the thought that, by pushing a button, I can increase my gas milage from the already impressive 36 MPG Highway rating (27 MPG City) without sacrificing a thing.

 Edmonds.com and I both agree that Honda has restored the old magic to the new Accord.